Tips for Taking Your Dog to a Hotel
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How to Stay at a Hotel with Your Dog
If you love to travel and want to be able to bring your furry best friend along on your adventures, you might be considering booking a hotel. Being able to stay in hotels with your pup will open even more doors to your travel adventures as you explore the country. Like most dog owners, you are probably wondering if your dog would do well in that type of environment and how you can make the stay go smoothly. This guide will go over the things to consider looking for a dog-friendly hotel and the pros and cons of staying at a hotel with your dog. You’ll also see what items we recommend that will set your pup up for success. Here are our best tips for taking your dog to a hotel to get you started on your next adventure!
Don’t forget to join our Facebook group for Traveling Pet Owners for a safe space to ask questions and where we can inspire each other with new destination ideas to explore with our favorite canines.
Will My Dog Do OK in a Hotel?
Some dogs may not be a good fit to bring with you if you will be staying at a hotel. Here are a few things to think about to help you decide whether it would be a good idea to bring your dog to a hotel:
- High anxiety dogs may find hotels to be too stressful due to the high activity levels that can occur with other guests and hotel employees. There are several things you can try to help your dog with anxiety that can help your hotel stay more manageable. Depending on how severe their anxiety is, it may be best to make other arrangements.
- If your dog has aggressive tendencies, a stay in a busy hotel may not be the best idea. It will be more enjoyable (and safer) if your dog likes or at least doesn’t mind being around people. If your dog doesn’t do well around people, you may want to leave them at home.
- Dogs that are super security conscious, meaning they are highly attuned and bark at every small noise or movement may not handle a hotel stay well. Booking a hotel during the off season, asking for a low traffic room, using a white noise machine can help a lot with this problem.
If you are not ready to bring your dog to a hotel, then you may consider camping. Here are some tips for taking your dog camping to help get you started! Other accommodation options to consider can be a motel where there is no lobby to walk through when entering and leaving your room, cabins, or an Air BNB.
Planning a Hotel Stay with a Dog
Planning a vacation that involves a hotel stay with your dog can offer its own challenges and benefits. The most important thing you will want to do is make sure that the place you will be staying at is dog friendly and to verify the pet policy of the hotel. Most hotels will have limits on what breeds and size of dogs they will allow as well as how many pets can be in each room.
They may also have restrictions on where dogs are allowed on the property. Fitness centers, pools, and restaurants are almost always off-limits and some hotels may not allow them in other common areas around the hotel.
Find out about any pet-related fees that the property charges before you book your stay. There are several sneaky ways that hotels increase the price of your stay if you have a pet. Some businesses will charge a flat fee if you have pets staying with you, others may charge per pet. Other hotels may charge additional cleaning fees for having a pet in your room. By verifying what fees, you will be charged, you can make the best decision for your budget.
Know whether the hotel will allow you to leave your dog alone in the room. This is very important to know as you may need to adjust your vacation plans so your dog can always go with you. Even if your dog can be left behind in your room, I do recommend you plan some dog-friendly excursions to make sure your pup is getting proper exercise and socialization.
If you are looking for more tips on preparing for a vacation with your dog, you can find them here.
When deciding between hotels, know that some will be more dog-friendly than others. There may be dog-friendly options on the room service menu, options for doggie daycare, dog parks, and more at certain facilities.
Benefits of a Hotel Stay
- Staying in a hotel lets you have all the comforts of home, with little to none of the responsibility. You don’t have to pack camping gear, worry about dishes or cleaning your house, etc. which leads to a more relaxed and stress-free vacation.
- The weather is almost a non-issue. You and your dog can be comfortable inside no matter whether it is 100 or -20 degrees out. Windy or rainy? No problem! You have solid walls and a roof around you to protect you from the elements. Unlike with camping, extreme weather does not offer as many dangers or inconveniences when you are in a hotel.
- More freedom. If the hotel you are staying in allows your animals to be left in the room, this allows more sightseeing opportunities for you during your trip. This means that you don’t have to worry about leaving your dog at a boarding facility that you may not have the ability to fully research to go visit a museum or zoo.
Cons of a Hotel Stay
- Your dog may be more stressed staying in a hotel room with all the activity, noises, and strangers that will be around them than they would be staying in a tent or RV in the wilderness. Remember that dogs that become stressed can act out by becoming destructive, loud, or having bathroom accidents in the room.
- If your dog has an accident or damages something in your room, the charges can make quite a dent in your pocketbook. This is where the crate can come in handy, even if you hope that you won’t have to use it.
- If your dogs are too disruptive, you may be forced to leave the hotel and find different accommodations. You may also have to change your vacation plans if your pup is having a hard time being in your room without you.
Dog Hotel Gear
One of the best parts about staying at a hotel is that you don’t need to bring items like tents and sleeping bags. This will save a ton of room in your vehicle, leaving more room for your dog, your Pup’s Road Trip Supplies, and the souvenirs that you find on your vacation. Aside from the typical items that you need for your dog to meet their basic needs like food, bowls, medications, leash, etc., here is a list of other things that will make your stay easier on you and your dog.
Crate– A crate is the best way to make sure that your dog does not damage the hotel room during your stay. It can help your dog be more comfortable if they are used to being in it. But even if your dog doesn’t normally use one, it is great to have one just in case your pup starts showing destructive signs from stress or pent-up energy.
Sound Machine– A sound machine is a great tool to use to help drown out all the noises that happen in a hotel. It can help block out the noise from people walking by in the hallway and loud next-door neighbors. This is also a great way to help the humans sleep if they are light sleepers.
Toys & Feeder Puzzles– Bring some of their favorite items to help keep them occupied when they are in the hotel. Just be careful that the toys and puzzles can’t do damage to the room. This can be a great way to tire them out, even if they don’t get to adventure with you all day long.
Treats– Treats are what makes the world goes round! Reward good behavior during your trip. Quick training sessions are also a great way to keep your pup mentally stimulated and provide some fun bonding time.
Dog bed/blanket– A bed or blanket that has the familiar smells of home can be very comforting for them. This will also give them an option to lie down and relax on something that they are used to.
First Aid Kit– Remember to bring along a dog first aid kit. If you want a list of items that you should consider having in it, take a look at the DIY Dog First Aid Kit post. If you already have a kit for yourself, you can easily add a couple of things to make it more dog-friendly to save money.
GPS Tracking– Consider getting a GPS tracking device for your pup so you can find them in case they run away. Accidents do happen and they may not be able to find their way back to you in a new place.
Trial Run
Before making long-distance plans involving long hotel stays with your furry friend, you might want to try a trial run so you can anticipate how your dog will do. A true trial run would involve a hotel stay close to home, but this may not be financially justifiable. Instead of staying in a hotel, you can try staying at a friend’s house to see how your dog will do overnight in a different environment. Another option is to book your first hotel stay during the off-season when there will be fewer people, noises, and activities that your dog will have to deal with.
Arriving at the Hotel
Once you arrive at the hotel, make sure your dog has ample time to use the bathroom before you get checked in. Remember that you have no idea what new smells your dog may come across in the hotel that they might be tempted to mark. It’s always safest to make sure that their bladder is empty. If your dog is a heavy marker, you might consider having them wear reusable diapers during your stay just in case.
After you get checked in, take the time to let your dog investigate your room and their new surroundings before you start hauling your luggage in or taking off to explore the town. Once they have had time to explore the room, bring in your luggage and set up their water bowl and bed (and crate if you are using one).
Tips for Hotel Stays with Dogs
Many factors will go into how your dog will do at a hotel. Your pup’s personality, energy level, training, and hotel set-up are just some of the things that will affect how your stay will go. Some things will be out of your control but here are some tips that will help you lay the groundwork for a successful trip.
Ask for a room in a low-traffic area
Depending on how busy the hotel is, you may be able to request a room in a less-traffic area. If your dog likes to bark at people as they go by, trying to get a room that will get minimal foot traffic can make a huge difference.
Keep them tired
Take them on plenty of walks and give them plenty of playtime. Remember the golden rule for canines; a tired dog is a good dog. Barking and other destructive behavior can increase if they have a lot of pent-up energy. By making sure they are getting proper exercise, they will be better behaved during your trip. If they have to stay behind in the hotel room, feeder puzzles and training sessions can help tire them out.
Don’t forget the privacy sign
Don’t forget to put the ‘do not enter’ sign on your door to prevent hotel staff from entering your room. This will stop your dog from accidentally escaping while you are out and from any negative interactions that may occur with staff if your dog feels threatened.
Take them with you when possible
When possible, take your pup with you. Not only will this help tire them out, but your dog will love spending more time with you. They will most likely have a much better time exploring new places than being left behind in a strange place. Remember, this is their vacation too!
Give your dog time to get comfortable
Make sure your dog has enough time to get comfortable with its new surroundings before you leave them by themself. This amount of time will be different with each dog and even with each location. You want to keep your trips as positive as possible for your pup and their stress levels low. Making sure they are comfortable in their new surrounding is important.
Use a white noise machine
The white noise machine is useful to hide the noises at night and during the day. During the day, guests will be coming and going from neighboring rooms, and housekeepers maintaining the cleanliness of the hotel. Your dog will appreciate not having to hear everything that goes on in the hotel day and night- I know I do!
Keep their water bowl full
Make sure you keep the water bowl full. Your dog may drink more water than you would expect if they are stressed out by their new surroundings.
Stick to their normal schedule
This is especially important if you have a more anxious dog. Try to feed them around the same time as you would at home so there is some sort of normalcy even when you are traveling. Remember that they will still most likely need to go to the bathroom at the same time in the morning and they are used to going to bed at a certain time.
Learn from Each Experience
As with most new things, you and your dog will eventually develop and fine-tune the perfect system to make your hotel stays smoother with the trip. Staying in a hotel offers the comfort of a warm bed and access to wonderful amenities like A/C and heat making it an ideal place to rest your head during your vacations year-round. And being able to find a hotel that allows you to leave your dog in the room for short periods allows you the freedom to explore even more places during your trip. I hope these tips for staying at a hotel with your dog will help you feel more comfortable taking your pup with you on your next adventure!
If you think your dog will be happier staying at home, that’s ok too! Take a look at our pet sitter guide to make sure you set your pet and pet sitter up for success.
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